Ex-AFL star Glenn Archer wins right to appeal runner assault

North Melbourne great Glenn Archer has won a Supreme Court battle allowing him to appeal his conviction for assaulting a junior football runner.

The 45-year-old punched the volunteer at his son’s Under-15’s match at Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s north-east, in June last year.

Believing he was going to get “a slap on the wrist” and pay for the victim’s broken glasses, Archer pleaded guilty to unlawful assault, but was clearly upset when a Magistrate convicted him and fined him more than $2000.

Archer, 45, has one the right to appeal his assault conviction. (AAP) (aap)The ex-AFL star said he was "relieved at the outcome". (AAP) (AAP)

The premiership player instructed his lawyer to launch an appeal stating the “punishment was excessive”, but his former legal representative failed to lodge the paperwork within the 28 day time period.

Archer was successfully granted an appeal by the County Court after claiming he received poor legal advice and wasn’t aware of his rights.

Police launched action in the Supreme Court to halt Archer’s appeal submitting, “it’s no good to say I have exceptional circumstances because I don’t like the result and I didn’t have a good lawyer,” Prosecutor Ray Gibson told the court.

Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell dismissed the application, ruling Archer can proceed to appeal where he is likely to plead not guilty to the assault.